The Boy, The Mole, The Fox and The Horse: Poetry in Animation

By José Alberto Hermosillo  

“The Boy, The Mole, The Fox and The Horse” is an animated short film about love, friendship, and kindness. This thought-provoking adaptation is truly a masterpiece. Evocative, environmental, poetic, and artistic animation creates the feeling of watching a watercolor painting or a Rembrandt.

“The Boy, The Mole, The Fox and The Horse,” produced by J.J. Adams and Woody Harrelson, is directed by Peter Baynton and Charlie Mackesy, adapted from Charlie Mackesy’s bestseller by Jon Croker and Charlie Mackesy himself. 

Behind the calm sound of the characters’ voices are the talents of Jude Coward Nicoll, who plays The Boy, and Tom Hollander (“The White Lotus”), as The Mole. Idris Elba is the quiet Fox, and The Horse is played by veteran actor Gabriel Byrne (“Spider,” “End of Days,” “Stigmata”). The Boy encounters The Mole in the middle of a beautiful, frosty landscape, and being lost is unsuitable for either. 

TMoleole, hungry and blind, confused a big tree with a cake. The two new friends approached the tree, climbed the branches, and looked for an unknown river that would guide the Boy back to his home. 

At that particular place and time, Moleole asks the Boy, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” The Boy firmly answers, “Kind.” Even though the Boy is already kind, he does not want to change when he grows up because he wants to continue treating everyone with kindness and respect.

Contemplating the horizon—searching for that river—the Mole-inspired expressions say, “So much beauty we need to look after.” “Yes, so much,” replies the Boy. In that moment, we felt that there was a friend who would always be there to help. 

The heartfelt story teaches us to strengthen our inner resilience with the support of our diverse, close friends through philosophy and poetry. Many existential questions emerge, such as tMole'se’s “Can you believe in me more than I do?” which concludes with “Life is difficult, but you are loved.” At one point, Fox admits that he is quiet because he has nothing interesting to say.

The Horse’s experience and confidence ensure that others continue the journey safely. Just like in the “Wizard of Oz,” they must find out if there is a home for the Boy at the river’s end. All four characters support each other and share the same mantra, “asking for help isn’t giving up,” said the Horse, “It’s refusing to give up.” “Tears fall for a reason; they are your strength, not your weakness.”

 

“When things are out of control, you must focus on what you love right under your nose,” says tMoleole. That is why we are here, to love and be loved.

This original British BBC/Apple TV Plus production has been nominated for Best Animated Short Film at the 95th Academy Awards. “The Boy, The Mole, The Fox, and The Horse” is among the top contenders for the Oscar, joining other notable animated short winners like “Dear Basketball,” “Mr. Hublot,” “The Danish Poet,” and “Peter & the Wolf.”

 

Watching this short artistic piece brings up questions, such as how cold it must be for a boy to be outside without a jacket. What will the friends eat, and how will they protect themselves from environmental dangers and predators?

 

“The Boy, The Mole, The Fox, and The Horse” is a charming, innocent, and beautiful animated film that teaches kids important lessons on becoming better humans. 

The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse — Official Trailer | Apple TV+

The 15 Shortlisted Animation Shorts are:

Black Slide
The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse
The Debutante
The Flying Sailor
The Garbage Man
Ice Merchants
It’s Nice Here
More than I Want to Remember
My Year of Dicks
New Moon
An Ostrich Told Me the World Is Fake, and I Think I Believe It
Passenger
Save Ralph
Sierra
Steakhouse

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Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris, The British Cleaning Lady on a Mission to The Dior's House

By José Alberto Hermosillo 

The delightful and heartwarming British/French sensation “Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris” is a real crowd-pleaser. It’s an enchanting period drama about overcoming adversity, fulfilling dreams and desires, and savoring the little pleasures in life that bring us joy and well-being. It’s one of the most enjoyable films of the year!

 

After losing her husband at the end of WWII in Poland, recently widowed Ada Harris (Lesley Manville) has to accept her new marital status. To keep going, she cleans houses to make ends meet and keep her dreams alive. Even though she’s still not wealthy, she must stay true to her charming personality.

Moving away from the grim depression of post-WWII, the British enjoyed playing the lottery, listening to raffles on the radio, and going to greyhound races to earn extra money and keep their lives going. Mrs. Harris is no exception.

 

While working for some wealthy women who could afford her cleaning services, Ada discovered a Haute Couture Dior dress in one of those houses. Her desire quickly turns into a dream and then an obsession. Her motivation for working harder is to earn enough money to buy that stunning gown, even if she doesn’t know if she’ll ever wear it. Mrs. Harris must visit the Dior House in Paris to get that dress.

The role of Mrs. Harris was explicitly written for experienced actress Lesley Manville. Ms. Manville delivers a charming performance as the elderly woman on a mission to the City of Lights.

 

Ms. Manville’s extensive career includes the critically acclaimed TV series “The Crown” and “Dangerous Liaisons.” She has also worked with Oscar-winning directors, including Paul Thomas Anderson on “Phantom Thread,” for which she earned an Oscar nomination, and Mike Leigh on “Another Year.”

The diverse cast of “Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris” includes Oscar-nominated veteran French actress Isabelle Huppert (“Elle,” “Amour,” “The Piano Teacher,” and “EO”). Mrs. Huppert is right in her element, playing the snobby, stuck-up Dior’s righteous right hand who will do anything to make Ada’s presence in the City of Lights distressing.

Lambert Wilson (“The Matrix,” “Flawless”) is the Parisian, mature, wealthy host who rescues Mrs. Harris from tricky situations. Jason Isaacs (“Hotel Mumbai,” “The Death of Stalin”) plays Ada’s suitor.

Model/actor Lucas Bravo, who plays the charming chef in “Emily in Paris,” is the discreet Dior accountant who offers his apartment to Ada. He is also in love with the most popular model at the prestigious firm. Other well-known actors rounding out the excellent cast include Alba Baptista (“The Child,” “Fatima”) and Rose Williams.
 
“Mrs. Harris” exudes a lively atmosphere filled with glitter, fashion, and intimate glamour. The dazzling and stylish haute couture costumes are enchanting, and the production design, which recreates London and Paris, is outstanding.

The historic trash collectors’ strike in Paris is evident in nearly every scene, as trash becomes an integral part of Parisian life, setting the stage for the climax at Dior, where Ada will have her moment of glory.

The film’s sense of harmony and humor stems from its original music, composed by Rael Jones. The jazzy score is catchy and sparkles charmingly, although Mrs. Harris’s central theme is similar to Luis Bacalov’s unforgettable soundtrack of the Academy Award-winning Italian film Il Postino. Some other musical elements evoke the Disney movie Enchanted.

Right after the book was published in 1958, the first adaptation of Paul Gallico’s beloved novel was a short play. In 1992, a TV movie featuring Angela Lansbury, Diana Rigg, and Omar Sharif followed. “Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris” is now a major motion picture that has captivated hundreds of fans worldwide.

The film’s extended opening will lead to a satisfying resolution of the conflict. “Mrs. Harris” is not primarily character-driven. The main character's relevance diminishes relative to the other equally important characters, making it an ensemble cast. The editing could emphasize Mrs. Harris more and de-emphasize the subplots. Therefore, a faster pace is necessary, with a focus on Mrs. Harris to highlight the story’s surprising elements. The ensemble cast works well, and the simple story serves its purpose, keeping the audience engaged until the end.

 

Great Britain’s long tradition of making films with social themes, class struggles, and labor strikes continues with “Mrs. Harris.” In these films, the entire community unites. They support each other to overcome difficulties and achieve self-fulfillment, as seen in “Four Weddings and a Funeral,” “The Englishman Who Went Up a Hill but Came Down a Mountain,” “I, Daniel Blake,” “Waking Ned Devine,” “Calendar Girls,” “The Lady in the Van,” “Vera Drake,” and “Suffragette.”

 

Interestingly, in a charming comedy like “Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris,” references to John Paul Sartre and other influential philosophers appear at key moments, resonating with different characters.

The story explores the irony of the main character’s existential crisis and how the entire community responds with respect, gratitude, recognition, and love—things we all seek for true happiness—just as Mrs. Harris does in this whimsical and delightful tale.

Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris official trailer

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